High School Literacy Programs
In 2008, national testing exams showed that 38% of seniors were reading below “basic levels,” indicating that there is a definite need for literacy programs for high school students. The results from an international comparison of reading comprehension and performance showed that eleventh and twelfth graders in the United States were ranked near the bottom, behind Brazil, Indonesia and other developing countries.
Many teachers were not surprised at these findings. They said it confirmed that even students who read well enough in the lower primary grades may encounter some trouble with reading later. In both middle schools and high schools, teachers usually consider themselves to be “content specialists” and believe that elementary school teachers are the ones who should be helping children to improve reading skills. One method of turning that around is to secure ongoing development by working with a literacy specialist who will coach the teachers on the best way of infusing literacy instruction while teaching.
There has been some action taken to improve these scores, including the No Child Left Behind Act that requires states to develop and administer assessments in the basic literacy skills. If the school wants to continue to receive federal funding they are required to give the test to all students in certain grades. There are several states that now require high school seniors to pass an exam in order to graduate.
If you need further proof that a standardized literacy program is needed for students, then consider the fallout from poor writing and reading abilities in post secondary circles as well, as 73% of employers have rated the reading and writing abilities of recent graduates as “fair” or “poor.” Over a third of the undergraduates needed remedial writing and reading courses during the first year or two in college.
Gaining insights into the reading process helps students to read for recreation, as well as providing a way to help them with their problem solving abilities. After going over the current research that is available on the reading process, school officials decided that students were not being provided with enough tools to successfully complete their reading goals. In the high school literacy programs, the teachers are encouraged to make the reading portion of their lessons more interactive. To see if these programs have merit, all you have to do is read some of the personal testimonies that are given by both students and teachers.
Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed cure panic attack cures as well as tips on the various anxiety disorder medication available at anxietydisordercure.com.